IPL 2019 | Too close for comfort, things need to improve, says Ravichandran Ashwin

04/09/2019

After KXIP secured a victory over SRH yesterday, R Ashwin is of the opinion that the chase had gone very close for comfort, and reiterated that there is plenty scope for improvement. KXIP were cruising towards victory, but a flurry of wickets in the end had brought SRH back into the game.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad had set a target of 150 for Kings XI Punjab, as David Warner huffed and puffed to score 70 runs, despite staying at the crease for the full 20 overs. The Kings lost Chris Gayle for 16 runs in the fourth over. Then came in Mayank Agarwal, and the youngster, along with KL Rahul stitched a sublime hundred run partnership. When Agarwal was dismissed, only 19 runs were required in three overs, but then two more wickets followed, and the equation came down to 11 of the last over, but fortunately for Punjab, Sam Curran and Rahul ensured victory for them with one ball remaining.

Skipper Ravichandran Ashwin was not happy with the fact that the game went so close, despite that it looked like a cakewalk for his side at one point of time.

“Too close to comfort. We have had really close games, the biggest positive for me is there is scope for improvement,” said Ashwin, at the post match presentation, reported PTI.

The Sunrisers were reeling at a score of 50 at the end of ten overs, with Warner batting at 20 off 30 deliveries. But then, small cameos from other SRH batsmen and little bit catching up by the southpaw ensured that the their team reaches a fighting total. The last over was bowled by Mohammed Shami, and only a run came off the first three balls, after which, Deepak Hooda, smashed 14 runs in the only three balls he played. The skipper implied that death bowling is an area they should look to work on.

“It will be really harsh to say that we conceded 100 runs in the last 10 overs. The plans were held very well upon. There is enough ability to work on it,” remarked the 32 year old.

Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman was a crucial player for the Punjab based franchise last year, but he has only played three out of six games in this edition until now. However, the skipper singled out the off spinner for his performance in this match, where he scalped the all important wicket of Jonny Bairstow in the second over of the innings. The 18 year old ended up with figures of 34 for one in his full quota of four overs.

“It was always in our plans, Mujeeb knows Mohali very well and as a spinner you need to know the lengths and speeds to bowl at. Sometimes the figures don't do justice, but I think Mujeeb bowled well today. You do use spinners with the new ball and Mujeeb has done it all his life for Afghanistan. And it was a good match-up between Bairstow and Mujeeb,”

Lastly, the skipper did not fail to acknowledge the home crowd, who turned out in large numbers, for their splendid support.

“The crowd have been splendid this year and it's a massive support for us,” Ashwin signed off.